Singer Jorja Smith and punk rockers Idles are among the most-nominated acts for Britain’s AIM Independent Music Awards.
Nominees for the Association of Independent Music (AIM)’s eighth annual prizegiving were announced at a launch event in London on Tuesday night (07Aug18).
Smith, who bagged the Critics’ Choice prize at the Brit Awards earlier this year, is up for U.K. Breakthrough of the Year and the PPL Award For Most Played New Independent Act, while her record Lost & Found is in contention for the prestigious Independent Album of the Year.
Idles, who have received the most nods with four, will compete against her in the breakthrough category alongside indie four-piece band Goat Girl, DJ and singer SOPHIE, and rapper AJ Tracey.
Other records up for the album of the year prize include Charlotte Gainsbourg’s Rest, Kamaal Williams‘ The Return, Kamasi Washington’s Heaven and Earth, Phoebe Bridgers‘ Stranger In The Alps, Shame’s Songs Of Praise, and Young Fathers‘ Cocoa Sugar.
U.S. singer Bridgers‘ song Motion Sickness is up for Independent Track of the Year, as is Gainsbourg’s Deadly Valentine. Other notable nominated tracks include Wolf Alice’s Don’t Delete the Kisses and Christine and the Queens’ Girlfriend.
Members of the public voted to decide the Best Live Act nominees, with beloved 1990s five-piece Steps, pop trio Cassia, rockers DMA’s, synth-pop veterans Erasure and Idles making the cut.
The recipients of AIM’s Innovator, Outstanding Contribution To Music and Pioneer Awards will be revealed before the ceremony at London’s Brewery on 4 September. BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ MistaJam and British TV personality Sharon Carpenter will host the event.
